Band: Kaipa

CD Title: “In the Wake of Evolution”

Label: InsideOut Records

Release Date: 2010

You know by the time a band gets to their 10^th album you might be forgiven for wondering if they’ve done it all. If you know anything about me, you’ll know that’s a question I don’t believe in asking; because in my books artistic endeavors don’t work that way. If you need proof of that just listen to the 10^th studio release from Kaipa entitled In the Wake of Evolution. It’s a brilliant example of a band who continues to come up with some excellent prog. Making the music once again are Hans Lundin (keyboards, vocals), Morgan Ågren (drums), Per Nilsson (guitars), Jonas Reingold (bass), Aleena Gibson (vocals) and of course Patrik Lundström (vocals). Guest musicians on In the wake of Evolution include Fredrik Lindqvist (recorders) and Elin Rubinsztein (violin). As you may have surmised this is symphonic prog of the highest order.

In the Wake of Evolution consists of eight tracks most of which are longer but with a few short pieces thrown in for good measure. The disc starts out with the title track “In the Wake of Evolution” [10:57] and it uses that classic prog musical motif of beginning the song with a solo instrument playing a melody that comes to full life a little later fully arraigned and then repeats itself any number of times throughout the whole composition. It’s brilliant. The tune is breathtaking with its staccato structure, incorporating tiny musical hesitation underneath lead lines played on keyboards or guitars. The first vocals come in 2:30 into the piece and are sung initially almost solo and much slower than the opening proceedings. The first set of lyrics is handled by Aleena and then in the second half of the song Patrick does his part. Needless the say there are many effortless musical change-ups, going fast to slow, harsh to soft. There is probably something I could say about each track; the majestic crescendos, the huge swells of music, the jazzy soloing, but let me just point out the longest one “Electric Power Water Notes” (17:51) which starts out strong and then goes from strength to strength is one of my favorites. At the 3:00 minute mark the guitars and rhythm section take up a riff that is so infectious and plays through the first half of the composition forming a great foundational groove while all manor of soloing takes place over top. The solos come from guitars, then flute, then Mellotron, then drums, then bass - its crazy man! Then the tune goes into all sorts of musical changes until the 13:00 mark where that funky riff comes back. Wow! The musicianship and musicality is first class.

The quality of music produced by Kaipa is first rate in my books. I may not always like a song here or there, but then some CDs seem to have more songs that hit me the right way and that’s certainly the case here with In the Wake of Evolution. I like every one of these eight songs. When considered as a whole, this is easily my favorite Kaipa CD; so naturally I recommend it highly for fans of symphonic prog.